Turks vote on proposed constitutional reforms
September 12th, 2010 - 1:53 pm ICT by IANSIstanbul, Sep 12 (DPA) Turks began voting Sunday morning in a national referendum on a package of constitutional amendments that has polarised the country and has the potential for far-reaching changes to the powerful judiciary.
Support for the referendum, expected to pass by a small margin, is seen by many as a vote of confidence for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) before general elections next year.
The referendum includes 26 amendments to the Turkish constitution, which was ratified in 1982 following a military coup in 1980.
The proposed changes have divided most of Turkey’s nearly 50 million eligible voters along party lines. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leader of the AKP, conducted a massive publicity campaign to promote the referendum.
The major opposition parties — the secular Republican People’s Party and the Nationalist Action Party — campaigned intensely against the referendum, while the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party is boycotting the vote.
If the referendum passes as expected, it will be seen by many as a victory for the AKP, in power since 2002.
Polls are open from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. (0500-1400 GMT) in Turkey’s eastern provinces and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. in the western provinces.
The date of the referendum is of symbolic importance for Turks, coming exactly 30 years after the coup.
- Six killed, about 100 injured in Turkey election clashes - Mar 29, 2009
- Syrian president ready for constitutional referendum - Feb 08, 2012
- Abu Dhabi prince meets Turkish leaders - Feb 29, 2012
- Indians safe in quake-hit Turkey - Oct 24, 2011
- 49 Turkish military officers arrested over suspected coup plot - Feb 23, 2010
- Jail for man who threw shoe at Turkish PM - Jul 01, 2010
- Turkey offers to dramatically increase sale of military hardware to Pak - Dec 08, 2010
- Turkey's top army officials resign - Jul 30, 2011
- Turkey launches military operations in northern Iraq - Oct 21, 2011
- Turkey role model for Islamic states: Gilani - May 22, 2012
- Killing of Armenians in WW-I a 'genocide': US house panel - Mar 05, 2010
- Ansari to go to Turkey Monday, focus on trade - Oct 08, 2011
- UEFA congress begins in Istanbul - Mar 22, 2012
- Israeli government the problem, not the people: Turkish PM - Oct 03, 2011
- Turkey ready to broker cease-fire over fears Libya may turn into "second Iraq or Afghanistan" - Mar 28, 2011
Tags: 50 million, akp, constitutional amendments, constitutional reforms, democracy party, eastern provinces, eligible voters, general elections, judiciary, kurdish, massive publicity, military coup, national referendum, opposition parties, publicity campaign, recep tayyip erdogan, symbolic importance, turkish constitution, vote of confidence, western provinces